be accountable

USAGE SUMMARY

"be accountable" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to acknowledge one's responsibility for their own actions, particularly if those actions have consequences for others. For example, "Each of us must be accountable for our own mistakes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You got to be accountable.

The New York Times

You must be accountable.

The Guardian - Books

It must be accountable.

The Guardian - Opinion

I will be accountable.

The Washington Post

"Somebody has to be accountable," he added.

The New York Times

Play tough man-to-man, be accountable".

The New York Times - Sports

Politicians have to be accountable to us".

The New York Times

"You should be accountable for your actions.

The New York Times

You've got to be accountable.

Yale University

I like to be accountable.

The New York Times

"Everybody needs to be accountable".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In professional settings, "be accountable" can be reinforced by implementing systems for tracking progress and providing regular feedback.

Common error

Avoid using "be accountable" without specifying to whom or for what someone is accountable. For example, instead of saying "Everyone must be accountable", specify "Everyone must "be accountable to" the team for their individual tasks."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be accountable" functions as an imperative, urging individuals or entities to accept responsibility and be answerable for their actions, decisions, or outcomes. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase acknowledges responsibility, particularly for actions with consequences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

14%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be accountable" is grammatically correct and very commonly used, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves as an imperative urging responsibility and transparency. Primarily found in news and media, it also appears in academic and business contexts. To use the phrase effectively, specify what and to whom one should be accountable. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression acknowledges responsibility for actions with consequences, which our analysis supports.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be responsible

Focuses on being in charge and reliable.

take responsibility

Focuses on accepting responsibility rather than just being in a state of accountability.

own your actions

Emphasizes taking ownership and not deflecting blame.

be held responsible

Highlights the act of someone else holding you to account.

take ownership

Highlights claiming responsibility and being proactive.

be answerable

Highlights the obligation to explain or justify actions to someone.

answer for your actions

Emphasizes the need to explain and justify one's behavior.

bear the consequences

Focuses on experiencing the results of one's actions, often negative.

face the music

An idiomatic expression for accepting unpleasant consequences.

be liable

Highlights legal or financial responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "be accountable" in a sentence?

"Be accountable" is used to instruct someone to take responsibility for their actions or decisions. For instance, "You must "be accountable for your mistakes"" or "Leaders should "be accountable to their team"".

What's the difference between "be accountable" and "be responsible"?

"Be responsible" generally means being in charge or having a duty, while "be accountable" implies accepting the consequences of your actions and decisions. You can "be responsible for" a project, but you are "be accountable for the outcome".

What are some alternatives to saying "be accountable"?

Alternatives include "take responsibility", "be held responsible", or "answer for your actions", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "be accountable to someone"?

Yes, it is correct. "Be accountable to someone" means you are answerable to that person or entity for your actions. For example, "Employees should "be accountable to their managers"."